In Memory of Kathleen Thompson
Kathleen Thompson, a revered writer, feminist, artist, and activist, passed away on December 21 due to liver failure following a three-year battle with breast cancer. She was 78 years old.
Born on September 12, 1946, in Chicago, Kathleen moved to Oklahoma City in 1951, where she spent her formative years with her parents, Leslie (Les) and Frances (Tracy) Thompson, alongside her two brothers, Paul and Michael, and two sisters, Tracy and Sara. During her time at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, she was elected student body president and actively participated in the debate team. She also served as president of the Oklahoma City District Methodist Youth Fellowship in her teenage years.
In a 2007 Chicago Gay History interview, Kathleen attributed her strong belief in equality and justice for all people to her father, a Methodist minister, and her mother, an English teacher. Her passion for fighting racial injustice ignited in the summer of 1963 when the NAACP protested local amusement parks that barred Black individuals from entry. After being informed that her Methodist Youth Fellowship group supported the civil rights movement, she advocated for white students to boycott the parks, which resulted in her photograph appearing on the front page of a local newspaper, although she humbly claimed it was “not great courage” on her part.
Kathleen continued her education at Northwestern University in Chicago, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1968. As an active participant in the anti-Vietnam War movement, she was present in Grant Park during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, where she remained unharmed and unarrested.
Upon graduation, Chicago became Kathleen’s lifelong home, a city she adored. She stated in her Chicago Gay History interview, “Chicago is the only city I would ever consider living in for any length of time … It’s a great place. I love the people here very much … I never want to leave.”
Following her graduation, Kathleen worked various jobs while nurturing her writing career, including a position at Northwestern University Press, where she first encountered the feminist essay “Bitch Manifesto” in the book Notes From the Second Year: Women’s Liberation, which kindled her connections with other feminist women. She established Pride and Prejudice, a used bookstore at 3322 N. Halsted St., which became the first feminist bookstore in Chicago. This venue laid the groundwork for a feminist collective that included a women’s rap group, pregnancy testing, and abortion counseling, as well as the production of The Source, a women’s liberation directory.
During this time, Kathleen became involved in the queer rights movement and began dating a woman for the first time. Along with her queer women friends, she attended the Chicago Lesbian Liberation meetings and frequented bars where they felt safe and welcomed.
Over the years, Pride and Prejudice transitioned into the Women’s Center, hosting an artist’s collective, musical performances, a lesbian counseling center, and Family of Woman dance events. Kathleen and her queer friends participated in the early Chicago Pride marches and demonstrations. However, a division within the center led to her facing backlash as a bisexual woman, prompting her to step back from both movements and dedicate more time to her writing career.
Her literary contributions were noteworthy, with her first book, the feminist classic Against Rape, co-authored with Andra Medea, published in 1974. This groundbreaking work shed light on the issue of rape globally, even facing a ban from the apartheid-era South African government, a fact Kathleen proudly highlighted throughout her life. The book emerged from the first Midwest conference on rape organized by Medea in April 1972, and it remained in print until 1990, extensively used in rape crisis centers and women’s studies courses.
Her subsequent works included Feeding on Dreams (1994) about the diet industry, which led to her first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also co-edited the Encyclopedia of Black Women (1997) and co-wrote A Shining Thread of Hope: The History of Black Women in America (1998) with historian Darlene Clark Hine. In 1999, she began a collaborative journey with Hilary Mac Austin, co-authoring several documentaries focused on the experiences of Black women in America.
Throughout her career, Thompson emphasized the importance of stories and the written word. To sustain her passion for writing, she co-founded the educational development house Sense and Nonsense in 1987 with her sister-in-law, Jan Gleiter, and authored over 100 children’s and young-adult books.
Kathleen’s life took a significant turn in 1978 when she met actor Michael (Mike) Nowak. Their connection sparked during a scene study course at St. Nicholas Theatre, and they soon embarked on a 46-year journey together. Although she made it clear that marriage was not part of her plans, their relationship was filled with love, adventure, and mutual respect.
In 1980, the trio of Kathleen, Nowak, and Judith Easton co-founded The Commons Theatre, an initiative committed to feminist-driven arts that ultimately produced eight of Kathleen’s plays over six years. Among her notable works were Caught in the Act and Dashiell Hamlet. Throughout this period, Kathleen taught playwriting at the Chicago Dramatist Workshop.
After the closure of The Commons in 1990, Kathleen pivoted her focus towards gardening and environmentalism, playing a key role in the Green on McLean neighborhood garden which aimed to revitalize their community. She contributed her website creation skills, leveraging her graphic design abilities to support local initiatives and her partner’s endeavors.
Recently, Kathleen started an upcycling business called Strictly Hodgepodge, crafting striking pieces of jewelry from vintage materials and scraps, garnering a loyal customer base at the Logan Square Farmers Market.
Alongside preserving LGBTQ+ and feminist histories, she collaborated with the Newberry Library to curate a collection of photographs by lesbian photographer Eunice Hundseth, ensuring vital legacies from the 1970s Chicago LGBTQ+ and feminist movements were preserved and accessible for future generations.
Kathleen is survived by her partner Mike Nowak, her brothers Paul and Michael, her sister Tracy, along with many nieces, nephews, and chosen family.
Mike Nowak fondly remarked, “Kathleen was one of the kindest individuals I ever encountered. Fierce when advocating for women, children, and minorities, her legacy of kindness continues to inspire.” Her siblings shared their fond memories and deep admiration, celebrating her brilliance, caregiving nature, and unwavering courage.
Her close friends and collaborators highlighted Kathleen’s extraordinary spirit, intelligence, and significant contributions toward women’s history and equality, affirming that she left the world a better place.
A memorial service in honor of Kathleen Thompson will be announced at a later date.
